It was my first experience at a “Landed Nudist Club”. It was at a rustic facility now called Drake’s Ridge in very rural Southern Indiana. I arrived early Friday evening with plans to camp Friday and Saturday nights. I had a Nissan pickup with a high-rise cap which I had outfitted as a one man sleeper for camping. It was a warm late spring day and the weather seemed like it was going to be rainy. I checked in, and was assigned a place to camp. I immediately undressed before I did anything else. After all, that was why I was there.
When I has finished setting up my “campsite” I strolled around the grounds a bit. There weren’t a lot of people there yet, but the ones who were, were quite friendly. The pool was open, but being early in the year, the water was plenty cold, despite the warmness of the evening. As it got dark, I wasn’t really ready to go to bed yet. I noticed that there was smoke coming from the chimney at the lodge.
It was still drizzly, but not cold at all. Still, I thought that a fire might be nice to drive off the dampness. With that thought I got a book from my things and headed for the lodge. Inside there were several chairs and sofas in a semi-circle around the fireplace. I put my towel down on one (nudists always carry towels to sit on), sat, and opened up my book. People drifted in and out, and I talked to a number of them, including Ellen, the owner/manager who was still waiting for people to come and check in. She turned out to be very active in the national naturist organizations, and was also a political activist who had done a lot to further the cause of nudism in various legal arenas.It was during this time that a van pulled up outside and in came a family. They consisted of Mom and Dad with three kids. There was a 13 or 14 year old girl, a boy of 11, and a younger girl who looked to be about 8. Overhearing their conversation with Ellen, it was obvious that they were regular members, and had a permanent camper already set up. The kids were obviously restless after the car ride, and the parents looked like two people who had worked all day before starting on their weekend trip, in other words; tired. It wasn’t terribly late yet, so the parents sat down on a sofa opposite me and started to relax. The kids, on the other hand were in no mood to sit. As kids usually do, they had their own agenda. “Mom, can we go to the frog pond?” After a moments consideration she replied, “That’s fine, but take your clothes off first.”
I was immediately struck by several thoughts. First of all was, “What a really odd thing to hear a Mother say to her children in a public place. The second thing was, “That makes a lot of sense.” It wouldn’t matter a bit if the kids got wet and muddy playing in the rain. They would rinse right off. Here was a Mother who wouldn’t have a lot of laundry to do after the weekend. My third realization was a feeling of belonging. I was finally in a world that made sense to me. I was one of a group who had managed to lay aside the artificial, and live in a way that was comfortable and natural.

My first time with any sort of “real” nudity was hanging out at my grandparents’ house wearing only a towel on a weekend when the only clothes we brought along were being washed. My brother and I were goofing around and sitting on the front staircase of their rather large house (a Ohio farmhouse with many additions over an equal number of years), and I clearly remember noticing how “cool” it felt when the breeze blew under my towel.
Hmmm, what’s this strange and wonderful sensation? Years later I recall going back to my room to change into pajamas and instead returning to the living room wrapped only in a soft comforter. My parents were both still awake and I joined them by returning to sitting in a rocking chair we had at the time. I felt as “sneaky” as could be and as if I was getting away with something even by being naked underneath the comforter.
All of these early experiences led up to a desire to being MORE naked, more often in more ways; ways I had just barely begun to imagine. So, in my middle teens I ordered some trade paperbacks on nudism from a wholesale book publisher and these really and truly expanded my understanding of the potentials for going nude socially!!! Before I even tried it I had this idea that I would “love” it more than anything else I had done in life, and that this new found preconception would carry me past any sort of reservations or nervousness I might have about undressing.The smiling people of all ages in my books looked so sincere and happy that I really wondered what I had been missing out on for years! My entire life up to then judging by the ages of the youngest children in these photos, and I felt like this was a part of life being actively “hidden” from me! I don’t think a brief skinny-dip with my brother and a friend really counted, although it was fun and we also did some naked experimentation in sleeping over at the friend’s house on weekends; nothing more than curious exploration of possibilities for NOT wearing clothes.
White Tail Park (then, “Resort” now) was my first organized social introduction and it could not have been a better time! This was in the late 1980’s, Springtime and on a well attended weekend with RVs, campers, day visitors and permanent residents all present. It was an experience equalling my readings, imagination and expectations and so I was lucky for such a great introduction.

I used to be less careful than I am now. I have in the past gone nude on sometimes fairly busy Spanish beaches, carrying nothing and walking purposefully past them for several miles. It is not illegal there. People would notice, but few seemed at all bothered. Only once did anyone (a man) object on the specific grounds that children might see me. As we know, children take no notice of simple nudity, but I did feel nervous because I then felt vulnerable and had no means at all to cover-up.
I occasionally experienced groups of two or three women expressing obvious approval that I was nude, not that I was looking for that. I always avoided single women who were not nude or top-free so as not to make them feel uncomfortable or threatened. It was interesting to observe how some couples saw me nude and then removed their clothing. That was in the past.
In the interests of not causing offence and not giving naturism a bad name even if legal I have changed my approach to public nudity to be less obvious. Just like Pete, I agree hiking is a lot more fun than the beach. I also use quieter Spanish beaches where few people pay any attention other than just noticing, some see me and do the same! Hiking in Spain, it is so quiet the chances of running into someone are low. Hiking in the UK the chances are much higher. If alone I have tend to disappear off into the bushes, feeling nervous since I have absolutely no wish to offend but afraid it .
Doing a Spencer Tunick installation has given me a different pespective on how the Brits see nudity. 1700 people went nude for several hours in a city in the name of “art”. Most were not naturists and were very nervous at first. I don’t go nude on UK beaches unless lying on my belly in a quiet spot. I only stand up when there isn’t anyone around for at least 700 yards, but may walk a long way then. If someone keeps on walking towards me I don’t usually worry about it, since it is their choice and I am on a very wide large beach, but if it is narrower I sit down and am discreet until they have passed.
If I see a lone woman I often cover up as we get closer so she can feel “safe”. No-one in the UK has ever objected or seemed offended. Occasionally they have been obviously amused, so I just say hello. You might wonder why I do not use nudist beaches very often. The main answer is simple. Sadly, in the UK and on the smaller Spanish beaches there are often various pervs hanging around and I do not feel as comfortable. They are the ones giving naturism a bad name.

I saw a publication in the travel portion of the bookstore about California nude beaches and found Rincon was the closest to me.

I ‘d a Speedo on beneath just in case I backed out and still needed to take pleasure in the shore with next to nothing on. I walked the shore to the bare place, put my towel down, dropped my shorts, and sat down. It took just about 30 minutes I’d say to begin being comfy and to really get up to walk around. Any anxieties of “delight” went away immediately and has never been a issue.

I seen this beach nearly everyday during the summer making the one hour drive each way.

My subsequent challenge was getting my girlfriend years afterwards to attempt. She was reluctant in the beginning, and also would say she’d do it, but would never remove her swimsuit when we got there. After several times, she eventually went topless and then naked. It finally became prohibited to go naked at Rincon and there’s nothing closer to love.

Nudity was appreciated in our house ever since. After wedding, we purchased a house with a totally private backyard and may take pleasure in the lawn and pool naked. We made it a point to raise our children naked additionally (now ages 4 – 10) and they don’t have any issues with it.

A close buddy I work with knows I ‘m a nudist , and it has come to our house with his wife to attempt. He eventually brought his two children and they took to it right away when seeing our children nude additionally. The amazing thing is children take to it naturally and it isn’t as hard as when you begin it at an old age.

I’m now 43 and love residing in a bare environment.

-Thomas
Van Nuys, CaliforniaWe moved to CA when I was 33, purchased a house and had a pool constructed. I immediately began skinny-dippin’ at nighttime. My daughter would frequently join me. When I was 44 my firm sent us to the Bahamas to put in a missile monitoring station. They’d a nude beach which my partner and I seen. She maintained it was bare because there were never any people on it. One day we’d walked about 3 miles down the shore and turned to go back. Around the first bend in the shore we saw 3 couples walking toward us in city clothing. It was high tide so we went into the water so that they’d have room to pass without becoming wet. When they were even with us they inquired if we lived on the isle and we answered “yes.” Subsequently they barraged us with questions-what did we do for diversion, cost of living, etc? We kind of pointed at the shore, water and some nice shells we’d picked up. As we got to our car one of the guys inquired if I was not sort of embarrassed being the only naked man in a group of eight. I looked down and said “Gosh, I’M nude! You know IT’S a nude beach and I ‘d believe you had be embarrassed wearing clothing.” Fast forward thirty years, my wife fell into delicate health and I lost her five years after. After she passed I spent a miserable month and then recalled her idea. I met many fine folks, swam a lot, basked in sunlight and that night I slept all night with no tears. The following week I took the motor home and dogs and went again for just two nights. Imagine what? So now, was I a nudist when I skinny dipped in my very own pool or on my first excursion to GE?

-Jim W
Riverside, California
What did you expect?

After many years of wrestling with all the thought,
I was seconds away from stepping outside for my first ever encounter, when someone rapped on the doorway. Without thinking I popped it open to discover a wonderful but completely clothed woman standing there. Seemingly she had the wrong room number. I am proud of the reality that I did not even flinch. However, when she turned to leave she actually “got an eye full” as she walked away.

My first idea was something like, “Well, what did you expect, feathers?” So, with that idea in mind I went outside and started the finest and most relaxing holiday I ‘d ever had. Obviously, I haven’t looked back,
except to laugh. Then, I became a
practicing naturist and I am proud of it.

-Doug from Michigan
Marshall, Michigan
My first encounter was at Blacks Beach in La Jolla California. I’d began a bucket list of stuff I needed to do in life a number of years before and got to thinking….why not?

One of my “A” school buddies and I made the decision to give it a shot on our last weekend in San Diego. We were a bit nervous as we headed to the shore. Eventually when we got there, we preferred to walk up and down the shore with our clothes on and then made a decision to drop our clothing!

We were both astonished at how fast we became comfortable with being nude, we really felt more ill at ease when we’d clothing on and nobody else did! We stayed for a number of hours, swimming, enjoying the sunshine, and having an excellent time. Amusing story about that trip, I dozed off on the shore. Not certain what I was dreaming about, but I began to get an erection and it woke me up and I needed to sit up and cover up, and was rather embarrassed. In 22 years since that point, it’s still the sole spontaneous erection I’ve ever had at a bare resort. When folks ask me questions about truly being a nudist, that’s among the most frequently asked questions, plus it just doesnt occur.

as soon as I returned home from that first encounter, I believed that was it. They’ve an yearly even called Nudestock and I spent the weekend there and was caught! Now everywhere I go, I seem to see what nudist resorts are in the region.

I ‘ve an entire change in my self body image. Before my first encounter I was really self conscious of my body….now I ‘m incredibly confident in my body. I feel amazing when the sunshine, winds, and water caress my body…it’s entirely a fully freeing experience! I talk openly about my encounters and have taken several individuals for their first encounters and never has anyone had a poor encounter.

-Rob Messner
Summerville, South Carolina
Free at Last

My first time bare encounter happened when a buddy of mine talked me into going to a clothes optional get together at health club with her. I was very nervous the entire week before but I was comitted to doing it. The very first thing I saw was a man taking his briefs away. My buddy saw my confusion and laughingly said “everything’s coed here.” We got a few lockers. She was nude very quickly. I ‘d gotten my top and short pants away but froze there; too anxious to take anything else away. I attempted to unhook my bra but my hands were trembling so badly I could not manage it. My buddy took care of it for me. I quickly drop my panties and place everything in the locker before I lost my heart. What a feeling once I walked out of that locker room totally naked iin front of 100 individuals. It was exhilirating and embarassing at the exact same time. But there I was concealing noothing. Swimming around nude felt so nice and it kind of felt I was covered. By the time we left the sauna I felt completely comfortable with being naked and wondered what all my nervousness was about. I was hooked. This was amazing. So liberation. We went over to observe the volleyball game for some time. When that match finished I joined the following game. OMG. Here I was bouncing across the volleyball court totally nude and loving every second of it. We stayed for over two hours and I loathed to put clothing on after. LOL. I came to be a nudist. That was about 20 years past and I Have never looked back.

Some time ago my lovely wife and I were discussing what we’d want to do and I mentioned, “I wish we’d some property so we could run naked in the woods together”. She believed that it seemed like fun.

So we Googled nude and Oklahoma and located two spots inside an hour’s drive of us. We sent an email to both and got an extremely nice response from OakLake Trails near Depew.

After completing the paperwork we were off to our cottage. We disrobed, grabbed our towels and stepped outside for our first ever naked in public encounter. We chose to walk one of the trails to get comfortable. As we were returning down a road to our cottage we passed by some people clothe, I did not understand it was clothing optional.

I told my wife, “If you’d told me three weeks back I’d be walking down the road buck nude in front of folks I Had have said you were mad,” but there we were doing just that and it did not even feel strange.

On the way home my wife said, “that is the very first time that I felt comfortable in my own personal skin.”

How soon did we go back?

-Symbol
Oklahoma
Nude at Big Sur

LOL! Eventually, I concurred and he offered several destinations and I decided Big Sur.

Arriving early Friday for a long weekend, we pretty much had our selection of camp sites. My boyfriend decided the site and we headed around to set up camp. I ‘d always harbored a dream of being nude in an outside setting but never dreamed I was going to recognize my dream.
I really had no hint about setting up camp so largely observed until it was time to lift the tent. I was actually beginning to sense the temperature and since no one was around, eased my t shirt away and had my bikini top on. My boyfriend simply grinned and kept working.

As fast as the idea came to me…off came my top. Wow! What an amazing feeling! My BF said he adored seeing me topless but see for other campers or camp rangers! I laughed and shortly he ha dhis top away. I said sure. They did ask for some help by using their tent and my BF obliged. We had lunch as well as a beer and by this time I ‘m feeling around dressed with my short pants on…and only that fast I was down to my panties. We grabbed our towels and cooler and began to the shore when our neighbors requested us to wait for them as they’d never been there before and didn’t need to drift into the incorrect region and cause an issue about being topless.

In minutes, the 5 of us were headed down the route to the shore. We did pass a family coming up the avenue but they weren’t upset of 4 topless girls. When we arrived at the sand, there were several other couples in a variety of phases of dress on the shore. Two of our neighbors promptly lost their bikini bottoms and continued as though totally normal. I was so excited I didn’t see that my BF was also nude. On the shore, completely nude and feeling the finest feeling of independence. We girls put on the bottoms of our bikinis but never troubled with our tops.

My BF as well as our neighbors pretty much spent the weekend together and around camp, we’d our bottoms on and were topless until the nighttime atmosphere chill arrived. Naked on the beach Saturday and Sunday and it was about a 50/50 mixture of folks naked and clothed but there were no issues. I still have mixed feeling about the camping but the liberty of being completely nude ourdoors never loses its appeal. We also appreciate nudity at home.

-Monica
Chino Hills, California
Nude at 12

Much to my mom’s chagrin, I elected to jump PJ’s during the warm summer nights of my 12th year. Raised Catholic, nudity was frowned upon under any conditions. A swimsuit was standard dress in the backyard pool until one day I determined that swimsuits were nonessential and I wandered out to the pool fully naked. My father tried not to see but Mother promptly told me to get a suit on. I shrugged and spread my towel and laid down on the adjoining yard. I never felt uncomfortable or tense being naked. After Mother addressed my nudity and said it absolutely was no satisfactory particularly in mixed company. I paid no heed and the following day, my parents and aunt, uncle and cousins were all outside at the pool and once more, I wandered outside completely naked. About 30 minutes after, my 15 and 16 year old cousins casually removed their tops and astonishingly, nothing was said.

Here we were! 3 completely nude young ladies when my other cousin chosen to join us and lost his swimsuit. However nothing was said. Late in the day, we BBQ’d and we did set the undersides on while eating. After dark, we were nude again just this time,my aunt stood up and slipped off her sundress and panties and joined us in the pool.

Mother, not certain what to do or say, simply sat and watched. My aunt began to tease Mother and amid all our laughing, Mother stripped naked and jumped in the pool. Afterwards, father warmed the Jacuzzi and all of the grownups were enjoying a nude soak.

After everyone had gone home, Mother came into my room with merely a sarong wrapped around her waist and sat down on my bed. I’m certain that she thought I’d tease her but I acted as though I didn’t see her nude breast. She admitted that she respected me and was happy she finally understood her want to be nude.

as soon as I went away to school, we’d different pools for women and men. There were several other girls that were topless in the pool and I followed the first couple of times but eventually walked out of the showers naked one day. Shortly, a lot of the topless women were naked and after several weeks, it was pretty much bare for everyone. That was Berkley CA.

One day, a male student came in the women’s pool and stipped nude. He got a couple of stares but no one objected. We met there often and shortly started seeing each other socially. We were collectively through 4 years at Berkley and we’ve been happily married for nearly 15 years. We still go naked at Mother and Dad’s but have a lovely small house with a private lawn and we often amuse both our nude and textile buddies.

-Gloria
Ontario, California
My wife made me do it!

30 years past wife and I were in the Caribbean at a private resort on a tiny isle. We’re early risers and walked to the end of the shore near our bungalo. Nobody was about and my wife took off her top and then challenged me to go skinny dipping. With the warm sunshine and sound of the surf I fell quickly asleep but felt safe with my wife on guard.

After I woke up to voices. Two women we met the night before at diner were speaking to my wife. Seemingly my wife had waved to them to join us but she didn’t awaken me. My wife had taken them and place them in her tote so she’d set me up. I was lying face down but was still quite uncomfortable with the specific situation.

The women, sisters, acted as nothing was incorrect and they sat down to chat. Eventually one said it was fine for my wife to request them to join us as they have not been on a clothing optional beach before and among the sisters asked my wife if it was ok to join me. Her more self-conscious sister did not. They women thanked me before I could say anything. My wife only grinned.

So the sisters got into the surf and I kept a considerable distance from them. Eventaully the self-conscious sister removed her suit also once she was in the water and was pleased until her more daring sister stole her suit and chucked it up onto the shore saying that now she’d need to walk out naked. Nobody needs to be forced into anything.

It was at that instant that I didn’t feel nude in any way. Soon after we all got out as well as returned to the towels where my wife was still reading. That’s when the sisters discovered I was a smoothie. They made a remark and my wife just said “I prefer him that way”.

I remained naked until we were prepared to return for brunch. It absolutely was her manner of challenging me. So I look down the shore and as there were just a couple of folks on the far end I said sure. With that the more daring sister chose to join me in the bare walk also, and so we went.

I was constantly naked, my wife never was, but on the final day the fearless sister determined to be a smoothie also! My wife still likes me to be naked round the home, but not her!

-smooth4her
NYC, New York
Hot Springs

We only went to a clothes-optional hot springs in northern California. I ‘d never experienced societal nudity before, and I was extremely nervous.

The time came to step out into the public place, and as I did, a girl was there undressing. I asked where to place my bag, and she said she only leaves hers there by the bences. There I was, naked – in front of complete strangers.

About 5 minutes after, she arrived and joined me. It was amazing to stretch out in a bath of hot water with nothing on!

Shortly I needed to get out as well as cool off in the swimming pool, I grabbed my towel and put it “stratigeclly” over my shoulder and walked down to the pool place and jumped in. I ‘d not skinny dipped since youth, and I was immediately taken back to that time. This went on for around three hours. At about the thrid trip to the pool, I was not even taking my towel to cover up. It was odd – I did not even really notice that I was naked, or anyone else for that matter.

I am now hooked and certainly will return to this facility often. After just several hours, I felt so completly relaxed and rejuvinated. Hopefully my wife will shortly come to understand the freedom and relaxation that may happen when you shed your shell.

I viewed the film “The Bucket List” and it made me think of my own personal bucket list. Among the things I ‘d always desired to do was see a bare resort. I’d swam naked in Lake Mead regularly and some other areas and enjoyed the feeling of freedom you get being naked.
I made the decision to locate a nearby nudist facility and visit. My wife said she wasn’t interested so I went alone to Mountaindale Sun Resort.

The host was very friendly and clarified the rules and gave me a quick tour. I CAn’t hesitate to get undressed and join up with the folks in the pool. I truly loved my visit and went back a couple more times. The pool, hiking trails, watering place and property are an excellent spot to spend time. Being naked felt so natural I immediately adopted the theory.

My wife will not share my excitement so my chances to see are reduced. My times at the nudist resort are a few of the very relaxing and pleasurable diversion I’ve ever done. I ‘m definitely happy I acted on carrying through one of the items on my “bucket list.” I located fellow nudists to be an extremely friendly bunch.

-Wayde D.
OregonOur first encounter with social nudity happened during the Skinny Dip this year. We talked about it for several days and eventually made a decision to go. She was truly somewhat scared of getting nude in public. She had all the anxieties which are discussed on each of the parks’ sites.

When we arrived at Whispering Pines, we were greeted by several nude folks at the gate. They grinned and gave directions to the parking area. So away we went into the sphere of social nudism. We drove past lots of folks that were naked too. All of them grinned and waved like they understood you.

After we parked and got out of the vehicle, I began to take my clothing away. She looked at my like I was insane. “Are you becoming nude right now?”

“I certainly am; everyone else is so we should be also.” She began to remove her clothing as a girl pulled into the place next to us. Robin quit and just stood there as the girl got from her car and stripped, and caught her towel and cooled and gave an extremely pleasant hello to us. I believe this removed all reluctance from Robin. She removed the remainder and we walked to the pool place.

That was the beginning of a brand new lifestyle for us. We’ve been back there and to The Bar S Ranch.
We’ve met a number of the friendliest folks at both locations. Now we’re getting prepared to join one as members.

All I can declare is why did I wait so long to get this done? It’s the greatest type of outdoor recreation. Sun and atmosphere on the naked skin is amazing to let life’s frustrations go away. Hate to need to pack up and go home. But like I said we will be back as frequently as possible.

We’d just bought our first RV and were looking for somewhere close to try the new RV. A Web search of nearby RV resorts found quite few places to go that were pretty close. I located Lilly Valley in Fort Erie, Canada and thought it seemed intriguing.
I was astounded when her only response was “OK.”
About 45 minutes after we were there. By the time that I got through the gate there were six naked guys with enough metal to construct their very own battleship.

Should you not enjoy it we will leave. Inside 15 minutes we’d met a Postal Worker and his wife, a family with two children, the proprietor and lots of other individuals. No one paid any attention to any parts except for the portions of the RV.

We’ve been nudists since then. We also felt the demand for AANR so much we became Prime Minister members and then Life members. Now all of our excursions are constructed around going from one nudist resort to another.

-Chales L
Buffalo, New York
First Nudist Holiday

I said what do you anticipate, we’re on the bare side of the resort?

-George
Cradle to Grave

My first encounter might be somewhat different as compared to a few other people. I suppose, given the time frame, I was about a couple of years old when I had my first memory of visiting a “nudist camp.” It was someplace in the Bay Area in California. We subsequently moved to Louisiana where there we no resorts or camps within a fair driving distance from our house. We did holiday at a few locations in Florida and Texas from about 1956 to 1964. My parents seldom troubled to get dressed throughout the home and my mom spent a least a few hours a day, during good weather, sun bathing in our quite big backyard. I’ve been wed a bit more frequently that I ‘d have enjoyed, but all of my wives have become nudist or at least participated in my nudist actions. I’m an academic and one of my research areas has included research on the effects of a nudist life style on kids (positive results), and legal problems relative to use of public places by nudist (testified in several legal actions).
I believe that one of the very most favorable results of my life long experience as a naturist is that I’m quite comfortable with all sorts and types of folks.
Thus . . . my first encounter was atypical, but now 60 years after I ‘m still at it.

Who could have thought that the youngest star of our nude beach photography collection would turn out the most zealous one? Just check her out in our photo set made on a hot summer day on the nude beach we so love! A young and petite girl, barely legal and still in her prime, jumped at the opportunity to pose nude for our site, sending all of her wildnudists.com
love to our subscribers. She confessed that it was her long-time dream to become a professional model one day. Well, not necessarily a nude model, but posing for cameras was something that got her really inspired. And we were in our turn inspired by those teenie-tiny arms and hips and lovely teen nudist boobies! We spent long hours together, working up a x-public real professional atmosphere. We followed the girl in her tracks, letting her engage in her regular nude beach pastime as if there were no camera flashing around her. Make no mistake, we made full advantage of the full potential of this wonderfully fresh and lovely model. And thus we managed to get the best of her natural beauty and juvenile charm. For seriously, what can be more intriguing and exciting than a young